Scientific Development

[Anchor Lead]

It has been three decades since South Korea launched scientific research in the Antarctic. In the past, few female researchers dared to participate in the research due to harsh weather conditions, but nowadays Korean women play a pivotal role in the scientific development of their home country.

[Pkg]

An expedition of female researchers arrives on a gigantic ice sheet in the Antarctic. They are here to study gases trapped in the ice. This is necessary to find weather information from a long time ago in order to prepare for the future. Oftentimes, the scientists end up being stranded on ice sheets because of the harsh weather. But they stoically endure the cold.

[Soundbite] Lee Da-eun(Ewha Womans University) : "(How long have you been here?) It's our eleventh day. We're doing fine, but the weather is very bad."

Korea launched Antarctic scientific research 30 years ago. The number of female researchers has been growing steadily despite the harsh local conditions.

[Soundbite] Kim Eun-sol(First female researcher at Jang Bogo Research Base) : "I really wanted to come to the South Pole, because not everyone can be part of this. I have been here for about 50 days, and so far it's been good."

Over the past five years, 134 female researchers were stationed at the two Korean research bases in the South Pole. In other words, one in every ten researchers is a woman.

[Soundbite] Ko Bo-ram (Doctor at Jang Bogo Research Base) : "As a doctor, I do what few other people do. I always wanted to be in places that need me."

In 2014, Doctor Ahn In-young, the first female Korean researcher in the Antarctic, headed the Sejong Base. A century ago, Korean women were at the forefront of the March 1 independence movement. Nowadays, they are spearheading Korea's scientific research in the South Pole.